Azerbaijanis are very hospitable and welcoming. It seemed to me they were always extending a hand to help others. However, they can also be camera shy and sometimes do not like to have their picture taken. Thus many of these photos are taken from further away from a subject or from behind. However, sometimes they wanted me to take their photo and it turned into an occasion, even inviting their friends over to be photographed as well. That’s what happened to me in the outdoor market of Salyan. This section is a thank you to all the Azerbaijanis who allowed me to take their photos.
After Work; AzerbaijanAll Smiles; AzerbaijanFriendship; AzerbaijanBreadseller in Salyan; AzerbaijanNecessities; AzerbaijanScenic Overlook; AzerbaijanBalloons; AzerbaijanHoliday Market; AzerbaijanGoing Home; AzerbaijanThe Orchestra; AzerbaijanFrosty; AzerbaijanFamily In Traffic; AzerbaijanSkiing in the Caucasus; Azerbaijan
Azerbaijani food has Central Asian and Turkish roots. Grilled meats, especially lamb, are favorites. Meals often come with yogurt, cheeses, fresh greens, pickles, and bread. An equal amount of fresh vegetables, nuts, and fruits is often on the table as well. Bread is very important and is usually cooked in clay ovens called tandoor. Of course, with the national fruit being pomegranates, there is usually either a bowl full of fresh seeds or a dish made with the fruit or its syrup when pomegrantes are in season. These are photos I took in an open air market in the town of Salyan in southern Azerbaijan; down the street from the Baku Train station; on the side of the road in Xixi; and at a gas station in the north of the country where a farmer had filled his Lada with apples for market.
The Purchase; AzerbaijanSummer Produce; AzerbaijanThumbs up; AzerbaijanStreet Venders; AzerbaijanSpices; AzerbaijanProud of his Harvest; AzerbaijanPickles; AzerbaijanMaking Gutab; Azerbaijan
Gutab is a savory dish similar to turnovers. The thin dough is rolled out and then stuffed with ground meat, mixed herbs, or pumpkin. It is cooked on a hot plate. Once ready, it is served with yogurt on the side and topped with ground dried sumac flowers.
My Michelle; The National Portrait Gallery; Washington, D.C.; 2018
The Obama portraits are a large draw at the National Portrait Gallery in D.C., and not just for tourists. It is a usual destination for school field trips and people on their lunch break who want to escape their office for a bit. This portrait of Michelle Obama is on the 3rd floor, close to a portrait of RFK and Katherine Hepburn’s Oscars.
Umbrella Man; Washington, D.C., 2019
Downtown D.C. has changed a lot during my life, I’m a native Washingtonian and my family been here for several generations. These changes are starkly evident in the new City Center (near the intersection of New York Ave and H Street NW), where I took this picture.
Fountains by Night; Washington, D.C.; 2019
Washington at night is always special–there are few tourists milling around and the monuments and buildings along the mall are populated by the people working in them. The buildings seem to glow against the dark sky.
Happy Holidays; Washington, D.C.; 2019
Everyone knows about the National Christmas tree at the White House, but I prefer the U.S. Capitol tree. The tree is sponsored by a different Congressional delegation every year and is shipped to the Capitol from that state or territory. This year, the 2019 tree came from New Mexico and the Speaker of the House lit the tree.
